Solar-Battery Home Power – Part 1, by Jeff M.

So to begin with I must say that my move to a solar/battery system was rather supernatural. I had been pondering for a long time as to installing a generator for our home, or use the large portable I already own and can connect manually, or do nothing. I was constantly worrying about two things:  1. Where will I get fuel in a long term, serious societal event? 2. All generators make noise, most of them a lot, including mine.

I was trapped in a vicious circle of worry, especially with events of the past six years. I truly believe God put the idea in my head with a “stop-dawdling” message on repeat. That was August 25, 2021.

Getting all the disclaimers and such out of the way, I am a retired commercial electrician. I knew very little about PV solar power, actually nothing once I began educating myself and I realized how much I did not know and how many things that I had heard about solar and battery storage that were just not accurate. I also must say that I previously was not a “solar guy” My electrical background told me the scale needed to actually have enough power to be realistic in a home and that reality kept me away. Additionally, I realized the tremendous amounts of energy required to mine raw materials, transport, and then manufacture solar panels and lithium batteries. These calculations, if done honestly with current technologies, negate any lessening of our environmental impacts.Continue reading“Solar-Battery Home Power – Part 1, by Jeff M.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoub

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on the arrival of Avian Influenza.  (See the Montana and Wyoming sections.)

Region-Wide

From Spectator World: Heading west to escape liberal tyranny: Remote work will geographically polarize the country even more. This refreshingly unbiased article begins:

“As our nation navigates a ‘return to normalcy’ in a post-Covid world, one return most workers won’t be making is to the office. And as an estimated 40.7 million American professionals plan to be working fully remotely within the next five years, expect the great political divide to widen as liberals and conservatives move farther apart, both ideologically and physically.

With working from home becoming the norm, “home” for many people is changing. ‘Anywhere from 14 to 23 million Americans are planning to move as a result of remote work,” an Upwork.com study taken at the height of the pandemic found. ‘[N]ear-term migration rates may be three to four times what they normally are.'”

It is noteworthy that this article quotes real estate agent Todd Savage — one of our loyal advertisers.

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I noticed that Redoubt News now offers a free e-mail newsletter.

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‘The true loss is our security’: Security camera purchases rise in the Inland Northwest.

Idaho

Idaho Supreme Court blocks new abortion restriction law from going into effect.

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Idaho Power faces $1 million fine after reporting violations.

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Canyon County: Idaho sheriff says area ‘overwhelmed’ by fentanyl overdoses: ‘This is at everyone’s doorstep’.

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Video: Idaho Teachers Brag About How They Work Around State’s CRT Ban.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoub”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 11, 2022

Today is the birthday of Lieutenant Colonel George Vincent Fosbery (11 April 1832 – 8 May 1907.) He was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was also a designer and inventor of firearms including the Webley-Fosbery “automatic” revolver (pictured) and the Paradox Gun.

April 11th is also the birthday of John Milius, who was born in 1944. He both wrote the screenplays and directed the films Dillinger, The Wind and the Lion, Big Wednesday, Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Farewell to the King, and Flight of the Intruder. He also wrote the screenplays of the first two Dirty Harry movies as well as the first draft of the screenplay for Patton (before Francis Ford Coppola turned it into a vaguely anti-war commentary laced with references to reincarnation). He also co-wrote the screenplay for Jeremiah Johnson. Milius is my favorite Hollywood writer and director, in part because he stands for everything that Hollywood doesn’t.

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Today we present a review written by our Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio.

CRKT Tueto Knife, by Pat Cascio

One of the things I like about the cutlery and other products from CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) is that they are always offering something a bit “different” or “unique” to put on the market. Many of their knives are a collaboration between CRKT and some very well-known custom knife makers. When they do this, you are getting the production version of a custom knife design, and it is near-custom when it is manufactured, at a fraction of the price of the custom model. I used to design and collect custom knives – most were fixed-blade, and I can attest to how much a handmade knife can cost. I simply can’t afford them, these days.

This newest folder from CRKT is called the Tueto, and to be honest with you, there is nothing special about this folder if you ask me. So, I plan to really put this folder through some serious testing for this article. However, I will say that the Tueto, is quite eye-catching. It is very attractive folder, and it feels great in the hand. It balances nicely, too.

The Tueto was designed by custom knifemaker, Jesper Voxnawa, from Denmark. CRKT claims that the Tueto is “purpose-driven like a puukko with a powerful twist.” If you don’t know what a Puukko fixed blade knife is, you’ve been living in a cave – they have been around in one version or another, ever since I was a little tyke. There is nothing special about a Puukko fixed blade knife, other than it is designed to handle just about anything you can throw at it. I know that many in the Denmark and Finland carry a Puukko on their military belt – as do fishermen, all over the world. They are an inexpensive knife that won’t let you down. I keep a version of the Puukko in the center storage armrest in my pick-up all the time.

Let’s take a look at some of the specs on this Tueto. It is an assisted-opening folder – I really like that. It has the extremely smooth opening IKBS ball bearing pivot that deploys the blade – extremely fast. The green G10 handle scales are super-tough and they provide a great hold on the knife. It is easy closing, once the blade is deployed with one hand. You can carry tip up for right or left-handed carry.Continue reading“CRKT Tueto Knife, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Chad’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

The following recipe is from reader Chad in Wisconsin. He modified a commercial recipe that he found online, to allow him to make his equivalent of Resse’s Peanut Butter Cups, from his storage foods cache.  Chad says: “This is the ultimate ‘comfort food’ for The Dark Days.” He also notes: “This recipe can be doubled, for double your yum!”

Ingredients

Base Layer:

Topping:

Directions

To Make The Base Layer:

  1. Melt 1 cup butter, margarine, or ghee over low heat.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar, peanut butter, and the graham cracker crumbs.
  3. Spread mixture in a jelly roll pan. Pat it down evenly.

To Make The Topping:

  1. Melt together 1/2 cup butter, margarine, or ghee with 1 cup chocolate chips.
  2. Spread this topping mixture over the peanut butter mixture.

To Prep for Serving or Storage:

  1. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Cut into bars of the desired size.
STORAGE

Chad noted that these bars can be frozen for storage for a week or more, if the bars are kept individually wrapped in saran-type wrap.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at some stock market risks. (See the Equities section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold to test $1,950 as bullish sentiment drives prices.

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Alasdair Macleod: The Commodity Currency Revolution.

Economy & Finance:

“Sounding The Alarm”: A $3 Trillion Problem Emerges As The Fed Prepares To Launch QT.

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Another perspective on the QT dilemma: The Fed has more money on its balance sheet (8.9 trillion) then the total value of all 401ks in the United States (7.3 trillion as of 9/21).

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The Daily Wire reports: ‘Unhinged’ And ‘Abnormal’: Fed Warns Of Housing Bubble As Average Cost Of New Homes Hits Record High. Here’s the intro:

“New data from the Census Department released last week reveal that the average cost of a new home hit a record high in February at $511,000. Now, the Federal Reserve is warning about a housing bubble.”

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At Zero Hedge: FOMC Minutes Signal Bigger, Faster-Than-Expected QT, Multiple 50bps Hikes. JWR’s Comment: It looks like the Fed’s leadership is fast-tracking a recession.

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California city to give universal income to transgender, nonbinary residents regardless of earnings. JWR’s Comment: I had to do a double-take, thinking that this was coming from a parody site, like The Babylon Bee. No, it is a genuine news article. This is virtue signaling run amok.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Here’s how to get started with the antipolitical politics of the Benedict Option. Secede culturally from the mainstream. Turn off the television. Put the smartphones away. Read books. Play games. Make music. Feast with your neighbors. It is not enough to avoid what is bad; you must also embrace what is good. Start a church, or a group within your church. Open a classical Christian school, or join and strengthen one that exists. Plant a garden, and participate in a local farmer’s market. Teach kids how to play music, and start a band. Join the volunteer fire department.” –  Rod Dreher, The Benedict Option

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — April 10, 2022

April 10, 1827 was the birthday of General Lew Wallace. He wrote books (author of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ), sculpted, practiced law, painted, played the violin and made them as well. In the “Battle of Monocacy” he led a unit alongside 8,000 Union troops against 15,000 Confederates. He was second in command of the Lincoln conspiracy trial as well as principal in the trial of the Commander of Andersonville prison where prisoners had been starved to death. He was U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. And he served as the Territorial Governor of New Mexico. Willian Bonney (“Billy the Kid”) surrendered to him.

April 10th, 1796 The birthday of Jim Bowie (died March 6th, 1836 at the Battle of the Alamo.)

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 100 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A LogOX 3-in-1 Forestry MultiTool (a $189 value) and a WoodOx Sling (a $79.95 value), courtesy of LogOx, both made in USA.
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 100 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging

Why Do We Prepare?, by Todd X.

I am a prepper. As a child, I remember my grandmother’s stories of living with scarcity during the Great Depression and her life lessons about the necessity of being prepared. As a teenager, my father was a senior operations officer at the Strategic Air Command (SAC) headquarters. He believed he would have an early warning about any incoming nuclear attacks. Consequently, he devised a code phrase. If he called and said: “I have some bad news: Grandpa fell and broke his hip” then we were to grab our bug-out bags and quickly head to our well-stocked cabin in the woods for safety. In college, I had a friend whose grandfather survived the Holocaust. His wisdom was two-fold: (a) always be prepared and aware of your surroundings as you are in a better position to survive calamity if you do; and (b) don’t be flashy in your consumption or possessions because if you do, you become a target. That inspired me. In the language of a recent SurvivalBlog author Elli O. and her article Red Shirt Versus Gray Man – I am a “gray man” prepper. When the pandemic hit and others were scrambling for supplies, we were prepared, and griped along with others, but didn’t experience any hardship. Prepping is part of my DNA, and I will die a prepper as I know no other way to live.

Tactical vs. Strategic

I believe we often confuse “tactical” and “strategic.” As a refresher, strategy lays out the long-term, broad goals that an organization, community, family, or individual wants to achieve while tactical forms the short-term actions and steps that need to be taken to accomplish the strategy. In other words, tactical and strategic are flip sides of the same coin. Without a good strategy, tactics don’t matter and without good tactics, a strategy won’t work or come to fruition. As I mentioned earlier in this post, I understand and engage in the tactics of prepping, and the need for “beans, bullets, and bandages” (among water, power, communications, to name just a few other necessities).Continue reading“Why Do We Prepare?, by Todd X.”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

These things command and teach.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” – 1 Timothy 4 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — April 9, 2022

On April 9, 1869, the Hudson Bay Company ceded its territory to the Commonwealth of Canada.

On April 9, 1768, John Hancock refused to allow two British customs agents to go below deck of his ship. This was considered by some to be the first act of physical resistance to British authority in the American colonies.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 100 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A LogOX 3-in-1 Forestry MultiTool (a $189 value) and a WoodOx Sling (a $79.95 value), courtesy of LogOx, both made in USA.
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 100 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging

The J-Pole and Other VHF/UHF Antennas, by Tunnel Rabbit

Antennas are the underappreciated other half of a transceiver. Back in the day, Hams strove to make their own homemade transceivers. But with the advent of cheap stuff from Asia, we have been spoiled. Now we tend to just buy it. It is time to refresh our skills. While continuing to build antennas for friends and neighbors, and other low-power community radio networks, I’d like to share some of my trade secrets. Secret number one. It is so easy, a guerilla can do it, but only after some trial and error.

A cheap radio on a good antenna is a better combination than an expensive transceiver that is attached to a cheap antenna. As it is with common-caliber ammunition, an easily reproducible antenna, solves a logistical problem. Antennas can and do break, and if I have several spares on the shelf, a new one can be quickly swapped in. And there are many Baofengs, and other transceivers out there that will need an external antenna. As ‘height is might’, a low-powered and inexpensive handheld, or a mobile transceiver on a good antenna, can be much more effective, not only in its ability to transmit farther, but to also receive weak signals from low power transmissions.Continue reading“The J-Pole and Other VHF/UHF Antennas, by Tunnel Rabbit”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

We had less activity last week, because a series of snow showers and rain showers curtailed our outdoor activity. The cattle apparently objected to being separated from the horses. They broke through a pasture gate, lifting it off of its hinge pins. I remedied that by installing a large lag bolt immediately above each pin.  But for the time being, the cows and horses are now pastured together. We are now working on the “reserve” hay pile. That is about three tons of Timothy/grass mix bales. The grass in our pastures should be tall enough soon that we won’t have to use more than half of those reserve bales.

I put up a couple of new light fixtures for Lily in the kitchen and dining room. Those certainly made a difference in cheering up the place, in the midst of Mud Season.

We took delivery of our new wood cookstove. We won’t have a place for it until I build a stone base, in the kitchen. So the stove may sit tarped on the deck for a couple of weeks.

Our other work this week involved our old camping/bugout trailer. Lily will explain that…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”